The advertising watchdog has deemed that Iceland's film breaks rules banning political advertising laid down by the 2003 Communications Act. Earlier this year, Iceland became the first major UK supermarket to announce it is removing palm oil from all its own-brand products.

It features a lovable cartoon orangutan (Image: Iceland)

As a result the advert - which shows mechanical diggers ripping down trees and sending scared animals fleeing, ending with the message '25 orangutans die every day' - has been launched on YouTube instead.

"Throughout 2018 we have led the retail industry to take action in areas such as rainforest destruction and plastic pollution of our oceans," says Richard Walker, managing director at Iceland.

"This year we were keen to do something different with our much anticipated Christmas advert.